GYMNASTICS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12418, 30 July 1902, Page 3

GYMNASTICS.

i , Br Pahauels. :

The e'mbs are all working hard at dumbbell and wand cxercises, and when the time comes round for the display the members should bo very proficient. The club ara also all working hard at the liaunor Competitiqn exercises. Tho Otago Gymnastic Association held a very successful smoke concert on Thursday night in tho Lower Choral Hall, when about 60 members from the affiliated clubs were present. Mr .T. W. Smith, the President of the association, occupied the cliair, and in his speech gave a brief outline of what the association had done in the past and what they intendod to do in the future. The toast of tiio. Otago Gymnastic Association was proposed by Mr Flewcry, who eulogised the work the association was doing. This toast was responded to by Mr F. C. 'Liggin?, who thanked the clubs for their assistance in the past, aiid asked them lo assist the association to tho best of their ability to get the very best team away to compete against Wellington. This, tho speaker reckoned, was the most important step taken so far by the association, and ite results would be very far-reaching .in tho interests of gymnasts generally. The Dunedin Club held two good practices last week, when some good work was gone through. On Friday the wand exercises were executed to music, and considering this was their first attempt to music, tlioy acquitted themselves very creditably. Three squads, under ff. G. Siedeberg, E. S. Wilson, and J. M'Ara, were afterwards hard at work, and went through several good exercises. The run round to music brought a good evening's work- to a close. Tho High Street Club had two fair musters last week. The members are practising hard at tho wand exercises for the display, and the first squad are practising at the competition exercises. Tho Mornington Club had two good practices last week. Tho first l squad are working hard .at the competition exercises. Tho wand exercises are being regularly practised, and the members aro rapidly acquiring dexterity in this direction. Tho Al!»ny Street Club aro practising hard, and the members are attending regularly. Captain A. and Deputy-Captain C. Hudson are giving the gymnasts every attention, and it will not be their fault if the team doek not give a good account of_ itself in the Banner Competition. Cap- ! tain Hudson has got the members working hard at the dumb-bell exercises, which thoy are executing in good style. I The Union Street Club are practising very hard, and they should bo able to enter a very tough team for the Banner this season. The dumb-bell exercises are regularly practised, and altogether good work is being done .in. this gymnasium. The Trinity Club had a good practice on Thursday night, when Captain Ackroyd put the members through some good work. The (ieorge Street Club had a good practice last week, when the members were practising hard at tho. dumb-bell exercises and: the Banner Competition cxercises. Instructor Gibb and Captain M'Donald were hard at it instructing the members. The Valley Club had good attendances last week, when some first-class work was gone through. Whittaker, Griffiths, and E. Thomson are all showing fine form, and should give a good account of themselves in the Banner Competition. The various clubs have been asked to forward the names of any members whom

they think fit to rcpresont the province. When this is clone it' is tho intention of tho association to get these members to practise together, so that the selectors will get an opportunity of seeing the work, and thus make it easier f<jr them to' select tho Otago team. Places in the team will cnuse very keen- competition. " Horizontal Bar " writes on gymnastics in OamaruThe Oamaru Olub held its opening practice on Monday night last, when there was a large attendance. Over 60 members were enrolled. Tho members were put through some'good work on tho parallel .bars by Captain Gill. Tho room which lias been secured is largo and suitable for tho purposes of a gymnasium. It has been open every night in the week, and mcmliers have km practising hard to make up for lost time. Tho Hill Club met, as usunl, on Wednesday and Friday evenings, when squads tog taken in hand hy Mr Stewart and senior members of the club. This club has had soino difficulty in obtaining an instructor, but it ha? been finally decidcd that for the present Mr Thompson should carry on tho work so ably begun by their late instructor, Mr Stables.